Float-valve.



J. S. BRENNAN.

FLOAT VALVE.

APPLICATION rum) AUG. 1, 1907.

918,272. Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

' N Q /Wr/f I JOHN S. BRENNAN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

FLOAT-VALVE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed August 1, 1907. Serial No. 386,533.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. BRENNAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful 'Im rovements in Float- Valves; and I do here y declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical and effective float-valve, especially designed for relieving the steampipes of vacuum heating-systems from air and condensation without comparative loss of steam, the valve in which case acting as an automatic trap.

Said invention consistsof various novel details of construction and combination of parts as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a float-valve embodying the features of my invention, the float being in full and partly broken away to better ustrate the details thereof and the section being indicated by line 1-1 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 2, a cross-section of the float-valve as indicated by line 22 of Fig. 1, part of the float being also broken away in this view.

Referring by numerals to the drawings, 1 indicates a cylindrical valve-casing provided with a steam-inlet nipple 2, which nipple is threaded for the usual pipe-coupling 3. At the bottom of the casing there also projects an internally threaded boss 4 for connection with a return-pipe not shown. This boss is provided with a central opening 5 communieating with the valve-casing chamber 6, the mouth of the opening being provided with a beveled valve-seat 7 communicating with a circular depression 8 in the bottom of said valve-chamber.

A hollow float 9 comprised of thin metal and cy' drical in shape is fitted into the valve-chamber, the float being vertically guided therein by a series of ribs 10, which ribs project from the inner walls of the said chamber, and in connection with the flat walls form a series of passages for the rise of water and air around said float.

The valve-casing mouth is threaded for the reception of a similarly threaded cap, which constitutes a steam-tight closure or dome for the chamber and also acts as a stop for the float when raised in its operation.

The float has secured to its upper and lower ends a central tube 12, having a conical centrally apertured hollow head 13 in communication therewith, which head is preferably composed of soft metal and projects beyond the lower end of said float, the head forming a valve or closure for the beveled seat 9 of the opening 5 constituting the return-pipe connection. The conical head as shown eing of thin flexible soft metal, is in eflect a shell and will more readily adjust itself to its seat and thereby insure a perfect closure. The restricted passage through said tube and its head, as s own, is designed as an air-vent, by means of which the steam pipe-system to which the valve-chamber is connected may be relieved of air which escapes through the main return-pipe communicating with the bottom of said chamber, the tube also serving to brace and strengthen the thin metallic float from end to end.

While I have shown and described the valve or closure as a head forming part of the tube 12, it is obvious that, Without departing from the spirit of my invention, I may, in some instances, press the same out from the body of the metallic float shell, in which case the tube would be brazed or otherwise connected thereto.

Having described the device in detail, the operation is simple, air being drawn through the restricted tu e-passage, and when water condensation rises in the chamber the float unseats and permits the water to escape through the main return-pipe opening. The soft metallic valve-closure or head renders the same self-seating and consequently increases the effective life of the device, while the ribbed chamber serves as an economical and effective means for guiding the float and its valve-closure to the seated opening therebeneath. Thus in effect I accomplish all the results obtained in float or trap-valves of the type to which my invention pertains, by a combination of mechanical features which, owing to their simplicity, not only reduce the cost of manufacture, but materially increase the life of same with comparatively slight attention.

I claim:

In a float-valve, having an open-end cylindrical chambered casing, a side-inlet and a bottom-discharge opening provided with a tapered valve-seat, and a closure for the open-end of the casing; the combination of a hollow float, a central tube extending through the float and connected to its opposite walls to constitute a vent therethrough, a Valve-closure for the tapered valve-seat in connection with the lower end of the tube and adjacent float-wall, the valve-closure comprising a flexible conical shell surrounding the tube, and whereby a dead-air space is formed between the outer walls of the conical shell and tube extension.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 1.5 have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of i fisconsin in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. BRENNAN Witnesses CARL H. Voss, F.1-I. MEADows. 

